Psalm 37:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.

NIV: Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.

NASB: Cease from anger and abandon wrath; Do not get upset; it leads only to evildoing.

CSB: Refrain from anger and give up your rage; do not be agitated—it can only bring harm.

NLT: Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper — it only leads to harm.

KJV: Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

NKJV: Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret— it only causes harm.

David advises his readers not to allow anger to get the best of them. Becoming enraged over the unfairness of the wicked man's prosperity is sinful (Ephesians 4:26–27). Proverbs 15:18 warns that "a hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention." Anger and the desire for revenge lead to a cycle of violence and sin. Judgment is ultimately God's role (Psalm 37:10; Romans 12:19), and temporary earthly pleasure from sin will result in terrible judgment in eternity (Matthew 7:21–23; Revelation 20:11–15).

The Lord cares for the righteous and always supplies what the righteous need (Matthew 6:33). The righteous, therefore, should be content with what they have (Hebrews 13:5). Proverbs 15:16 says, "Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it." David cared for sheep when he was a boy, and he recognized how much the sheep depended upon his care. He carried the allusion of the sheep-shepherd relationship into his Shepherd Psalm, Psalm 23, by writing, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want" (Psalm 23:1). The Lord is the shepherd of born-again believers (John 10:14–15), therefore we can be content with what He provides (1 Timothy 6:6).

Psalm 37:1–11 encourages David's audience to maintain a proper relationship with God by refusing to wallow in anxiety over their circumstances. Instead, they ought to trust in the Lord, find their joy in the Lord, and commit their future to the Lord. The tone of this passage resembles Proverbs chapter two, which explains the benefits of following godly wisdom. Matthew 5:5 holds a promise that parallels verses 9 and 11 of this psalm.

In this psalm, David contrasts the way God protects and saves His people, contrasted with the ruin which awaits the wicked. Much of this seems to be based on David's own experiences (Psalm 37:25, 35). As with many other passages in Psalms and Proverbs, this passage encourages godly wisdom. Those who reject God and His ways can expect uncertainty on earth and disaster in eternity.

Psalm 37 lies in the first division of Psalms and addresses mankind. Its tone resembles that of the book of Proverbs. The psalm dispenses wisdom about the security of the righteous man and the insecurity and fate of the wicked man. Psalms 36 and 39 also describe the insecurity and fate of the wicked. The covenant God made with Israel in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 27—30 is the basis for David's assurance that the righteous are secure. The issue of the prosperity of the wicked is also featured in Psalms 49 and 73. David most likely wrote Psalm 37 in his old age.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.